Ghanian Actress, Akuapem Poloo returns to jail as court dismisses appeal

Ghanaian actress, Akuapem Poloo, who was sentenced to three months in prison over a viral nude photo with her seven-year-old son, is said to have gone back to jail.

Akuapem Poloo was found guilty of posting a nude photo of herself and her seven-year-old son on his birthday back in June 2020.

 

The Director of Child Rights International Ghana, Bright Appiah, was the complainant in this case. He petitioned the police after the incriminating photo went viral on social media, and the matter was referred to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU).

She was thereafter arrested and charged with publication of obscene materials and engaging in domestic violence — conduct that undermines another person’s privacy or integrity.

During the ruling, the Circuit court held that the actress would serve her three months jail term concurrently, after she pleaded guilty to the charges against her.

Through her counsel, Poloo filed for an appeal on the basis that the ruling was harsh considering that she is a mother and first time offender. Instead of a jail term, Poloo pleaded for a fine. 

An Accra high court had granted Poloo bail in the sum of Ghc80,000 (N5,372,976) alongside two sureties, pending the determination of the appeal. Poloo also tendered a public apology amid the controversy, saying that the photo was meant to encourage people to appreciate mothers.

“We all know that I’m an artiste and anything l post on my page is an artistic impression meant to send a message across to people out there,” she had said.

So, the photo I shared on my son’s birthday was just an artistic impression. I’m not trying to portray porn on my page. l can’t do porn with my son. l even bathe with him always because he’s my son.

I was trying to send a message to children and grown up parents who don’t regard their parents, especially theirs mothers. Some people who have parents that are mad and naked for instance but won’t bother to cloth or take care of them.

Therefore, what l was trying to say is that no matter how naked you see your parents, don’t run away from them. Get close to them and cloth them. Nakedness also doesn’t only mean not wearing cloth.

I’m sorry if anyone was hurt by my post. l want to let everyone know that it wasn’t done out of any bad intention. I’m sorry.”

Her lawyers had appealed the case, challenging the 90-day jail term handed to her by the circuit court on April 16 but in a ruling on Wednesday, a high court sitting in Accra presided over by Ruby Aryeete dismissed the appeal.

“This court will not interfere, and the appeal is therefore dismissed,” Aryeete held. The judge also upheld the circuit court decision on the grounds that it “was not manifestly excessive”.

Aryeete ruled that, in the absence of the convict, Poloo’s child should be given to any competent relative, ahile his mother serves his sentence at the Nsawam prison.

After the ruling, Poloo send a heartfelt message to her son via her social media handle. She shared a photograph of her son with the caption, “Son I love you and God is with you always , you know. Be good till mummy comes back, God is in control always”.